SOUL ON THE STREET - WILLIAM ROACHE

Author: William Roache
ISBN: 978-1-84850-015-0
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 300
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HAY HOUSE

"As a young actor, William auditioned for a TV drama that was likely to be running for only a few weeks. Now, 47 years later, he is the only original cast member and the soap's success has established him as a household name. Over the course of that time, William's character Ken Barlow has been married four times, twice to Deirdre, and had a series of tumultuous affairs. This gripping story will appeal to fans of "The Street" and will make inspiring listening for anyone interested in personal development."

I first heard about this book when I saw Mr Roache on TV talking about his new book, and with me not really being a fan of his what made me sit up and listen was watching him talk about some of his spiritual beliefs. From that moment on I was interested and wanted his book. I looked at reviews online which praised it, and so when my sis asked what I wanted for xmas, I asked her for that. I am so pleased I did.

Being a biography, this book starts off with William telling you about his childhood, his schooling etc and his life into adulthood and how he came to be an actor in Coronation Street. He talks about some of the people he has worked with in the show. There are some personal things he brings up in his life which I found quite sad, like the loss of his daughter Edwina. But as the book goes along, most of all I found it to be a book of a good heapful of spiritual medicine. As William talks about his beliefs and the huge impact his beliefs have had on his life, I found myself being drawn in and I found it hard to put the book down. I just wanted to read more and more. It's such a positive read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in William Roache as an actor to get a better sense of who he is and how he became famous. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is interested in spirituality. It was an inspirational read for me, and certainly something I needed to read right now.


I would highly recommened this book to anyone interested.

5/5 stars from me.

The Holocaust by R G Grant.

Author: R G Grant
ISBN: 0-7502-2601-3
Genre: Historical- Non Fiction.
Pages: 64
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Wayland

"This book begins with a brief history of the persecution of Jews before looking at Hitler's takeover of Germany, the introduction of anti-Semitic laws, the Holocaust itself, from the viewpoint of both victims and perpetrators, to finally its discovery by the outside world and what followed."

This is another book about a subject that I am very interested in. The Holocaust is a subject that shocks everyone and is really hard to understand how this could have happened?

I am deeply interested in this subject because, I cannot begin to understand how these people in the camps felt. This subject reaches into my soul and cries out to all those who passed away through starvation, illness and all those executed and treated appallingly, and to those who survived. It is a topic of discussion which is often brought up in my house as we all sit as a family discussing why Hitler went to such devastating extremes, and how it must of felt to be a Jew or from another faith or gender, race or sexual preference etc.

Anyway, this book I found highly informative. It is filled with quotes written by those who survived the camps, who were spared as they were fit for work, while as they looked on they were separated from their families and described how they felt when their wives and children were taken from them, not realizing they would not see each other again, as their families were being taken to their death in the camps to be gassed, when they were told they were going to showers to be cleansed. Also how those in the camps were made to be slaves carrying away the dead bodies in the Gas chambers, knowing one day this would also be their fate. That was really sad to read

Also you learn how prisoners were used for experiments and one thing that also upset me was how it explained how punishments were dished out for no reason at all, and any reaction even a flicker of the eyes was seen as an offence against the soldier and Hitler.

This book is filled with pictures of the prisoners, some starved, some dead, some about to be executed. There are also pictures of soldiers and leaders. One named Albert Speer who refused to applogise for any war crimes he lead.

This book shows you how badly the Jews were treated, how they were forced out of work and their homes. Anne Frank's family are also mentioned in the book.

I could go on and on about this subject and this book. It is an upsetting subject, but also it is something from history we must never forget. I find it so hard to believe that any human being could treat another like this.

When you read this book, you understand the image of the prisoners climbing the hand on the front of this cover, which I am not going to explain here as it really upset me.


For information purposes and historical facts, this book is very valuable tool. Highly recommended.

Marley and Me by John Grogan.

Author: John Grogan

ISBN: 978-0-340-92210-1
Genre: Non Fiction
Pages: 343
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HODDER

"John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they bought home Marley, a wiggly yellow fur ball of a puppy. Life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barrelling, ninety-seven pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelery. Obedience school did no good - Marley was expelled. And yet, Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behaviour, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. This is the heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life."

I purchased this book on the spur of the moment after reading the great reviews it received. I am so pleased I did.

If you're a dog or an animal lover then this book will reach into your body pulling at your heart. As I was nearing the end of this book. I was sobbing so much my tears were from heart wrenching sobs. I really loved getting know Marley in this book, and although I shed plenty of tears, there were many moments where I was sat laughing in stitches through reading about his antics.

This is such a heartfelt true story of how John and Jenny got their first puppy, and how he changed their lives for the next 13 years. Causing havoc and distress at the worst of times but also in an instant bringing happiness and laughter and lessons in life, to all who loved him.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a book I shall always keep close to my heart.

The World of Anne Frank. Compiled by The Anne Frank House.

Author: The Anne Frank House
ISBN: 0-330-39382-0
Genre: Historical - Non Fiction.
Pages: 143
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Macmillan


"A photographic history that sets Anne Frank's personal story against the backdrop of Hitler's rise to power, the invasion and occupation of Holland, the extermination of the Jews, and final Allied victory. There are poignant photographs from archives all over Europe, and this visual history not only documents the evil that destroyed Anne Frank's world, but also reveals how racism is thriving today - and poses a great challenge. How do we deal with out own, often only half-admitted prejudices?"

I've wanted to read about Anne Frank for a long time now. Having never read her Diary (It's still something I want to do) I found this book that contained pictures and information of Jews and the world that Anne Frank lived in. It is a fascinating book with some detailed pictures, some of which are disturbing. For instance a photo of a Jewish man kneeling before his murdered friends, just before he is executed by German soldiers. The look on his face as he knows his fate is so sad. I was wondering 'what must he be thinking?' It makes you ask 'How could this have happened?'

This book gave me an insight into what I wanted to know about WW2 and the holocaust, and about Anne's family. The sadness I felt as I read this book and viewed the photo's was strong. This history is one that should never be forgotten. I would really like to see this taught in schools more, not just about the Jewish people but the war as a whole. Sadly it isn't taught in schools and it should be as we must never forget the devastation war brings and how people suffered and continue to suffer in modern day war.

The book goes through how WW2 started and the effect it had on people. The terrible treatment of the Jews, other religious communities, homosexuals, politicians etc. How some people hid and how others were caught and sent to their deaths at the Concentration camps. We are told that Anne's Mother, Edith died on 6th January 1945 in a camp from starvation. Both Anne and her sister Margot died of Typhoid in March 1945 just weeks before their camp was liberated.

During the end of this book, it goes into modern day racism and how it has carried on into today's world. Which is pretty sad really, you'd think we'd all learn by now in our modern world.

A very informative book. 10/10